64 minutes ago A caring Thomas Cromwell makes good TV, but beware the ‘yes’ men who enable tyrants| Kate Maltby

Mark Rylance’s sensitive portrayal blinds us to the lessons Henry VIII’s righthand man could offer for Donald Trump 2.0 Thomas Cromwell is back, and this time he’s a romantic. In Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, the latest BBC TV adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Tudor novels, we see Henry VIII’s chief facilitator turn 21st-century empath, offering a listening ear to half the young women of the Henrician court.Mark Rylance, former artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, is an actor with an extraordinary capacity for vulnerability. Here he is at his best and most sympathetic. As Cromwell, we watch him safeguard the victimised adolescent Mary Tudor, coaching her to negotiate her way out of looming execution at the hands of her axe-happy father, Henry. (Cromwell made a promise to Mary’s ...

Events

72 minutes ago State school system offers free tuition for families earning less than $100k

Tuition and mandatory fees would be completely covered for qualifying students under the ‘Promise Plus’ program

Politics

7 hours ago Tim Robbins: ‘You’re telling me Netflix is the future of cinema? We’re in big trouble’

With Silo, the actor – known for his strong political stances – is still choosing roles he truly believes in that echo real life. But he’s now concerned about the wider future of his own industry, tooBefore I speak to Tim Robbins, the publicist for the series that he’s promoting, Apple TV+’s dystopian drama Silo, politely requests that our conversation sticks to the show and his wider career. No politics please. It’s a brave attempt at reputation management, and also a completely doomed one. Because, well this is Tim Robbins! Has there ever been a Hollywood star more associated with the free mixing of performance and politics?This is the man, after all, who was banned, along with his then partner Susan Sarandon, from presenting at the Oscars after using their hosting stint at the 1993 c...

Events

7 hours ago Jaguar boss hits out at 'vile hatred and intolerance' after car fans turned on firm's widely

Rawdon Glover, managing director of the Indian-owned firm, denied the rebrand exercise was meant to be a 'woke' statement.

Economics

7 hours ago Cher delivers scathing verdicts on the two directors she hated working with: ‘He was a pig’

Pop icon and actor recalled one director in particular she ‘really, really disliked’

Politics

10 hours ago Christmas films: is Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon or Apple TV the best place to watch festive movies?

So much choice, how can you decide 🎅

Culture

10 hours ago Joy star Thomasin McKenzie's life with famous family as she admits she was 'dead set against' acting

New Zealand actress Thomasin McKenzie is known for her role in Jojo Rabbit and has now landed a part in Netflix's Joy

Events

10 hours ago Kate Middleton's subtle Christmas move that quietly rubbished huge Meghan Markle claim

During Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's controversial Netflix series, Meghan made a series of claims about life in the Royal Family but one appeared to be subtly rubbished by the Princess of Wales and another royal at a huge event

Politics

10 hours ago Inside Outlander star Nell Hudson's life from cheating ex and famous mum to Shia LaBeouf film

Outlander is making a comeback for the second half of season seven with a familiar face in anti-heroine Laoghaire MacKenzie returning for the new episodes.

Politics